CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING AN INDUCTIVE LOAD, CORRESPONDING DEVICE, VEHICLE AND METHOD

Abstract

 A circuit (100') comprises a high-side switch (HS) and a low-side switch (LS) arranged between a supply node (D) and a reference node (G), the high-side and low-side switches having an intermediate node (Q). A switching control signal (com) is applied with opposite polarities to the high-side and low-side switches. An inductive load (L) is coupled between the intermediate node (Q) and one of said supply node (D) and said reference node (G).
The circuit (100') further comprises current sensing circuitry (CS') configured to:
sample (12a, 14a) a first value (I_a) of the load current flowing in one of the high-side and low-side switches at a first sampling instant (t₁) before a commutation (t_s) of the switching control signal (com),
sample (12b, 14b) a second value (I_b) of the load current flowing in the other of the high-side and low-side switches at a second sampling instant (t₂) after said commutation (t_s) of said switching control signal (com),
sample (12b, 14c) a third value (I_c) of the load current flowing in the other of the high-side and low-side switches at a third sampling instant (t₃) after said second sampling instant (t₂), and
generate (18) a failure signal (fail) as a function of said first (I_a), second (I_b) and third (I_c) sampled values of the load current.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The description relates to techniques for measuring a current in an inductive load.

[0002] One or more embodiments may be applied to half-bridge driver circuits configured for driving inductive actuators such as solenoids in a vehicle (e.g., in a transmission system or braking system thereof).

Technological background

[0003] Half-bridge driver circuits are known in the art, which may be used for driving inductive loads.

[0004] As conventional in the art, a half-bridge circuit comprises a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected between a supply voltage node and a reference voltage node (e.g., a ground node), the two switches having an intermediate node therebetween. The switches in the half-bridge circuit may comprise solid state switches such as MOS field-effect transistors.

[0005] According to known arrangements, the half-bridge driver circuit may be provided within an integrated circuit (IC). The load, usually external to the half-bridge circuit, may be connected between the supply voltage node and the intermediate node of the half-bridge circuit in a so-called "low-side driver" configuration, or between the intermediate node of the half-bridge circuit and the reference voltage node in a so-called "high-side driver" configuration.

[0006] According to known driving schemes, the high-side switch and the low-side switch may be driven by respective complementary control signals switching between a high value ("1", e.g., to close the switch) and a low value ("0", e.g., to open the switch).

[0007] Certain arrangements are known, wherein the values of the current flowing in the load before and after commutation of the switches are compared one to the other to determine whether a failure may have occurred in the device. The current may be sensed either at a peak of the load current or at a valley of the load current. Sensing may be performed at the high-side switch and at the low-side switch of the half-bridge arrangement. For instance, a failure signal may be issued if the difference between the high-side current and the low-side current (or vice-versa) exceeds a threshold value.

[0008] Document US 2017/0322240 A1 is exemplary of such prior approach.

Object and summary

[0009] An object of one or more embodiments is that of measuring a current in an inductive load with improved accuracy with respect to the known solutions.

[0010] In particular, one or more embodiments may facilitate compensating a variation of the load current which may take place between a first current measurement, effected before commutation of the driver circuit, and a second current measurement, effected after commutation of the driver circuit.

[0011] According to one or more embodiments, such an object can be achieved by means of a circuit having the features set forth in the claims that follow.

[0012] One or more embodiments may relate to a corresponding device (e.g., a transmission control unit or a braking control unit for a vehicle).

[0013] One or more embodiments may relate to a corresponding vehicle.

[0014] One or more embodiments may relate to a corresponding method of operating the circuit.

[0015] The claims are an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in respect of the embodiments.

[0016] According to one or more embodiments, a circuit may comprise a high-side switch and a low-side switch having a node intermediate the high-side switch and the low-side switch. The high-side switch may be configured to provide a current flow line between a supply voltage node and said intermediate node, and the low-side switch may be configured to provide a current flow line between said intermediate node and a reference voltage node. The circuit may comprise a control input node configured to receive a switching control signal, said switching control signal being applied with opposite polarities to said high-side switch and said low-side switch. Said high-side switch and said low-side switch may be configured to drive an inductive load coupled either between said supply voltage node and said intermediate node or between said intermediate node and said reference voltage node. During a first portion of a switching cycle of said switching control signal a load current flows in one of said high-side switch and said low-side switch, and during a second portion of the switching cycle of said switching control signal the load current flows in the other of said high-side switch and said low-side switch.

[0017] According to one or more embodiments, the circuit may further comprise current sensing circuitry configured to:

sample a first value of the load current flowing in said one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a first sampling instant during said first portion of a switching cycle before a commutation of said switching control signal,

sample a second value of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a second sampling instant during said second portion of a switching cycle after said commutation of said switching control signal,

sample a third value of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a third sampling instant during said second portion of a switching cycle after said second sampling instant, and

generate a failure signal as a function of said first, second and third sampled values of the load current.

Brief description of the figures

[0018] One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the annexed figures, wherein:

Figures 1A to 1D are circuit block diagrams exemplary of circuits configured to drive an inductive load and measure the load current, according to various possible configurations,

Figures 2A to 2D illustrate exemplary waveforms of signals in the circuits of Figures 1A to 1D, respectively,

Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged view of exemplary waveforms selected from Figure 2B,

Figures 4A to 4D are circuit block diagrams exemplary of embodiments of a circuit configured to drive an inductive load and measure the load current, according to various possible configurations,

Figures 5A to 5D illustrate exemplary waveforms of signals in the circuits of Figures 4A to 4D, respectively, and

Figures 6 and 7 are exemplary of possible applications of one or more embodiments.

Detailed description

[0019] In the ensuing description, one or more specific details are illustrated, aimed at providing an in-depth understanding of examples of embodiments of this description. The embodiments may be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not illustrated or described in detail so that certain aspects of embodiments will not be obscured.

[0020] Reference to "an embodiment" or "one embodiment" in the framework of the present description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure, or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is comprised in at least one embodiment. Hence, phrases such as "in an embodiment" or "in one embodiment" that may be present in one or more points of the present description do not necessarily refer to one and the same embodiment. Moreover, particular conformations, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any adequate way in one or more embodiments.

[0021] Throughout the figures annexed herein, like parts or elements are indicated with like references/numerals and a corresponding description will not be repeated for brevity.

[0022] The headings/references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hence do not define the extent of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0023] By way of introduction to the detailed description of exemplary embodiments, reference may be first made to Figures 1A to 1D and 2A to 2D.

[0024] Figure 1A is a circuit block diagram exemplary of a circuit 100 configured for driving a load L, in particular an inductive load L. The circuit 100 comprises a load driver circuit LD and a current sensing circuit CS.

[0025] As exemplified in Figure 1A, the load driver circuit LD may comprise a conventional half-bridge circuit. Therefore, the load driver circuit LD may comprise a high-side switch HS and a low-side switch LS connected between a supply voltage node D and a reference voltage node G (e.g., a ground node). The supply voltage node D may be configured to receive a (e.g., positive) supply voltage V_POS, and the reference voltage node G may be configured to receive a (e.g., negative or zero) reference voltage V_NEG. The high-side switch and the low-side switch have an intermediate node Q.

[0026] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the supply voltage V_POS may be in the range of 6 V to 20 V, with a typical (e.g., nominal) value of about 14 V and a maximum rating of about 40 V.

[0027] Purely by way of non-limiting example, the reference voltage V_NEG may be in the range of -0.3 V to 0.3 V, with a typical (e.g., nominal) value of about 0 V and a maximum negative rating of about -2 V.

[0028] As exemplified in the Figures annexed herein, the switches HS, LS may comprise solid state switches such as, for instance, MOS field-effect transistors.

[0029] In particular, Figure 1A is exemplary of a low-side driver configuration, wherein the load L is connected between the supply voltage node D and the intermediate node Q.

[0030] The load driver circuit LD may comprise an input node C configured to receive a digital control signal com which switches between a low value (e.g., 0) and a high value (e.g., 1) to drive commutation of the switches HS, LS. For instance, a first inverting stage 10a may propagate an inverted replica of the signal com to the high-side switch HS, and a second non-inverting stage 10b may propagate a replica of the signal com to the low-side switch LS. The stages 10a, 10b may also bring their output signals to voltage levels adapted for driving the switches HS, LS.

[0031] Figure 2A is exemplary of possible time behavior of signals during operation of the circuit of Figure 1A. In particular, Figure 2A illustrates the time behavior of the following signals: V_Q is the voltage at the intermediate node Q, I_L is the current flowing in the load L, I_HS is the current flowing in the high-side switch HS, I_LS is the current flowing in the low-side switch LS, and com is the digital control signal received at the load driver circuit LD.

[0032] As exemplified in Figure 2A, the switching activity of the control signal com results in a corresponding switching activity at the intermediate node Q between V_POS and V_NEG (e.g., between 14 V and 0 V), with the current I_L flowing in the load L oscillating between a peak value and a valley value. In a portion of a switching cycle the current I_L flows in the low-side switch, and in another portion of the switching cycle the current I_L flows in the high-side switch.

[0033] Purely by way of example, the current I_L flowing in the load L may oscillate between 0 A and 2.5 A. For instance, the peak value may be about 1.5 A, and the valley value may be about 1.0 A.

[0034] In particular, Figure 1A is exemplary of a circuit 100 according to a low-side driver configuration adapted for measuring the currents I_HS and I_LS at a valley of the load current I_L. The current sensing circuit CS may comprise a first current sense amplifier circuit 12a configured to sense the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS, and a second current sense amplifier circuit 12b configured to sense the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS. The first and second current sense amplifier circuits 12a, 12b may provide respective (digital) output signals indicative of (e.g., proportional to) the respective sensed currents I_HS, I_LS.

[0035] One or more embodiments may comprise an adder circuit 16 configured to sum the output signals from the first and second current sense amplifier circuits 12a, 12b to reconstruct a (digital) signal sum indicative of the overall current I_L flowing in the load L.

[0036] The (digital) output signals from the current sense amplifier circuits 12a, 12b may be sampled by means of respective digital sample-and-hold circuits 14a, 14b. For instance, the sample-and-hold circuits 14a, 14b may comprise sequential circuits such as flip-flops, which may be active on the rising edges of the respective clock signals provided thereto.

[0037] The first sample-and-hold circuit 14a may be driven by a clock signal s substantially corresponding to the digital control signal com, and the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b may be driven by a clock signal s_del substantially corresponding to a delayed replica of the digital control signal com (as exemplified in Figure 2A). A delay circuit 15 may be provided between the input node C of the circuit 100 and the clock input of the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b to introduce a propagation delay and generate the clock signal s_del starting from the clock signal s.

[0038] Generally, the delay introduced by the delay circuit 15 may be adapted so that the low-side current I_LS is sampled at the sample-and-hold circuit 14b after the high-side switch HS has (completely) turned off and the low-side switch LS has (completely) turned on. The amount of delay may depend on blanking time of the current sense during the commutation of node Q. Purely by way of non-limiting example, the delay introduced by the delay circuit 15 may be about 10 µs (1 µs = 10^-6 s).

[0039] Therefore, a (digital) output signal I_a may be provided at the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a, the signal I_a being indicative of the current flowing in the high-side switch right before a "valley" commutation of the load driver circuit LD. Similarly, a (digital) output signal I_b may be provided at the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b, the signal I_b being indicative of the current flowing in the low-side switch right after a "valley" commutation of the load driver circuit LD (as exemplified in Figure 2A).

[0040] A subtractor circuit 16a may be configured to subtract the signal I_b from the signal I_a to generate a (digital) error signal err indicative of the difference between the outputs of the sample-and-hold circuits 14a, 14b.

[0041] A window comparator circuit 18 may be configured to receive the error signal err and generate a (digital) output signal fail indicative of whether the error signal err falls within a determined window of values or not. For instance, the output signal fail may be asserted (e.g., set to 1) as a result of the error signal err being lower than a first (negative) threshold value V_N or higher than a second (positive) threshold value V_P, and it may be de-asserted (e.g., set to 0) as a result of the error signal err being within the first threshold value V_N and the second threshold value V_P. Possibly, the window may be symmetric, i.e., V_N = -V_P.

[0042] Therefore, the signal fail may be asserted as a result of the "valley" load currents flowing in the high-side switch HS and in the low-side switch LS differing by more than a threshold value, possibly indicating a failure of the device.

[0043] Figure 1B is exemplary of another circuit 100 according to a low-side driver configuration, where the current sensing circuit CS is adapted for measuring the currents I_HS and I_LS at a peak of the load current I_L. Figure 2B shows corresponding exemplary waveforms.

[0044] By way of contrast with the circuit exemplified in Figure 1A, in the circuit exemplified in Figure 1B the first current sense amplifier circuit 12a is configured to sense the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS, and the second current sense amplifier circuit 12b is configured to sense the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS.

[0045] Additionally, in the present example the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a is driven by a clock signal s substantially corresponding to an inverted replica of the digital control signal com, and the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b is driven by a clock signal s_del substantially corresponding to a delayed inverted replica of the digital control signal com (as exemplified in Figure 2B). The inverted replica of the digital control signal com may be generated, for instance, by an inverter circuit 19 as exemplified in Figure 1B.

[0046] Therefore, as exemplified in Figure 2B, the (digital) output signal I_a at the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a may be indicative of the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS right before a "peak" commutation of the load driver circuit LD. The (digital) output signal I_b at the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b may be indicative of the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS right after a "peak" commutation of the load driver circuit LD.

[0047] Therefore, the signal fail may be asserted as a result of the "peak" load currents flowing in the low-side switch and in the high-side switch differing by more than a threshold value, possibly indicating a failure of the device.

[0048] Figure 1C is exemplary of a circuit 100 according to a high-side driver configuration, wherein the load L is connected between the intermediate node Q and the reference voltage node G. In particular, Figure 1C is exemplary of a circuit 100 adapted for measuring the currents I_HS and I_LS at a valley of the load current I_L. Figure 2C shows corresponding exemplary waveforms.

[0049] In the presently considered example, the first current sense amplifier circuit 12a is configured to sense the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS, and the second current sense amplifier circuit 12b is configured to sense the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS.

[0050] In this example, the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a is driven by a clock signal s substantially corresponding to the digital control signal com, and the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b is driven by a clock signal s_del substantially corresponding to a delayed replica of the digital control signal com (as exemplified in Figure 2C).

[0051] Therefore, as exemplified in Figure 2C, the (digital) output signal I_a at the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a may be indicative of the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS right before a "valley" commutation of the load driver circuit LD. The (digital) output signal I_b at the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b may be indicative of the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS right after a "valley" commutation of the load driver circuit LD.

[0052] Therefore, the signal fail may be asserted as a result of the "valley" load currents flowing in the low-side switch and in the high-side switch differing by more than a threshold value, possibly indicating a failure of the device.

[0053] Figure 1D is exemplary of another circuit 100 according to a high-side driver configuration, wherein the current sensing circuit CS is adapted for measuring the currents I_HS and I_LS at a peak of the load current I_L. Figure 2D shows corresponding exemplary waveforms.

[0054] By way of contrast with the circuit exemplified in Figure 1C, in the circuit exemplified in Figure 1D the first current sense amplifier circuit 12a is configured to sense the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS, and the second current sense amplifier circuit 12b is configured to sense the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS.

[0055] Additionally, in the present example the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a is driven by a clock signal s substantially corresponding to an inverted replica of the digital control signal com, and the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b is driven by a clock signal s_del substantially corresponding to a delayed inverted replica of the digital control signal com (as exemplified in Figure 2D).

[0056] Therefore, as exemplified in Figure 2D, the (digital) output signal I_a at the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a may be indicative of the current I_HS flowing in the high-side switch HS right before a "peak" commutation of the load driver circuit LD. The (digital) output signal I_b at the output of the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b may be indicative of the current I_LS flowing in the low-side switch LS right after a "peak" commutation of the load driver circuit LD.

[0057] Therefore, the signal fail may be asserted as a result of the "peak" load currents flowing in the high-side switch and in the low-side switch differing by more than a threshold value, possibly indicating a failure of the device.

[0058] It is noted that solutions as exemplified in Figures 1A to 1D and corresponding Figures 2A to 2D may be affected by systematic errors, e.g., due to the high-side current measurement and the low-side current measurement being performed at different sampling instants. This may result in the measured high-side current and the measured low-side current being different even in non-faulty systems.

[0059] By way of example, Figure 3 illustrates with greater detail exemplary waveforms of the load current I_L and of the switching voltage V_Q in the exemplary case of a low-side driver configuration with peak current measurement, as exemplified in Figures 1B and 2B.

[0060] As discussed previously, the two sample-and-hold circuits 14a and 14b may sample the load current at different sampling instants. For instance, the first sample-and-hold circuit 14a may sample the load current (low-side current, in the presently considered example) at an instant t₁ (end of interval T1 in Figure 3) right before the switching instant t_s. The second sample-and-hold circuit 14b may sample the load current (high-side current, in the presently considered example) at an instant t₂ (start of interval T3 in Figure 3) right after the switching instant t_s. Between instants instant t₁ and t₂ exists a sort of "blind zone" (interval T2 in Figure 3) during which one switch in the half-bridge circuit is being activated and the other switch is being de-activated, so that the corresponding currents may not be reliably measured. However, this time interval may be sufficiently long to allow for the load current I_L to change its value, even in non-faulty devices. As a result, the error signal err = I_a - I_b may not be equal to zero even in non-faulty devices, as exemplified in Figure 3.

[0061] Therefore, one or more embodiments may aim at compensating such an error. In particular, one or more embodiments may rely on the recognition that the load current I_L has an approximately linear rate of change at least in a first portion of the time interval T3 which follows the current sampling effected by the second sample-and-hold circuit 14b.

[0062] Thus, one or more embodiments may additionally be configured to:

sample a third value of the load current I_L after commutation of the half-bridge circuit (e.g., during the time interval T3),

compute a compensation value as a difference between the second sampled value and the third sampled value, and

subtract said compensation value from the error signal computed as a difference between the first sampled value and the second sampled value to generate a compensated error signal, wherein the compensated error signal may indicate more accurately possible failures of the device.

[0063] Figure 4A is a circuit block diagram exemplary of one or more embodiments of a circuit 100' configured for driving a load L, in particular an inductive load L, in a low-side driver configuration with valley load current measurement. Figure 5A illustrates corresponding exemplary waveforms of the load current I_L and of the switching voltage V_Q.

[0064] By way of comparison with the circuit of Figure 1A, a current sensing circuit CS' as exemplified in Figure 4A may comprise a comparator circuit 40 configured to compare the voltage signal V_Q sensed at the intermediate node Q to a threshold value V_TH. The threshold value V_TH may be selected to be between the values V_POS and V_NEG, e.g., approximately in the middle of the supply voltage range, so that the comparator circuit 40 may assert and de-assert an output signal at the instants t_s corresponding to the switching points of the half-bridge circuit.

[0065] The current sensing circuit CS' may comprise an up-and-down counter circuit 42 having: a "start" input configured to receive the output signal from the comparator circuit 40, a "down" input configured to receive the signal s_del, and an "end" output configured to assert an output signal. An edge in the signal received at the "start" input may trigger up-counting from a reference count number (e.g., zero). A rising edge in the signal received at the "down" input may trigger reversing the count direction (e.g., starting down-counting) towards the reference count number. Reaching the reference count number may trigger the output signal of the up-and-down counter circuit 42.

[0066] Therefore, the up-and-down counter circuit 42 may be configured to start up-counting from a reference value (e.g., zero) as a result of the voltage V_Q crossing the threshold V_TH, i.e., at the voltage switching instants t_s. The count direction may be reversed (i.e., the internal count number may start to decrease) as a result of a rising edge being sensed in the signal s_del at the "down" input, i.e., at the sampling instant t₂. A time interval T_b may thus elapse between instants t_s and t₂. The output signal of the up-and-down counter circuit 42 may be asserted at an instant t₃ as a result of the internal count number going back to the initial reference value (e.g., zero), i.e., after a time interval T_c = T_b from instant t₂.

[0067] The current sensing circuit CS' as exemplified in Figure 4A may comprise a third sample-and-hold circuit 14c configured to sample the (digital) output signal from the current sense amplifier circuit 12b and driven by the output signal from the up-and-down counter circuit 42 (e.g., by the rising edges thereof). Therefore, a (digital) output signal I_c may be provided at the output of the third sample-and-hold circuit 14c, the signal I_c being indicative of the current flowing in the low-side switch at the sampling instant t₃.

[0068] The current sensing circuit CS' as exemplified in Figure 4A may comprise a second subtractor circuit 16b configured to subtract the signal I_c from the signal I_b to generate a (digital) compensation signal edc indicative of the difference between the outputs of the sample-and-hold circuits 14b and 14c. A third subtractor circuit 16c may be configured to subtract the compensation signal edc from the error signal err to generate a (digital) compensated error signal cdc.

[0069] Therefore, a window comparator circuit 18 may be configured to receive the compensated error signal cdc to generate the output signal fail indicative of whether the compensated error signal cdc falls within a determined window of values or not, in a manner similar to that discussed with reference to Figures 1A to 1D.

[0070] Figure 4B is a circuit block diagram exemplary of a one or more embodiments of a circuit 100' configured for driving a load L, in particular an inductive load L, in a low-side driver configuration with peak load current measurement. Figure 5B illustrates corresponding exemplary waveforms of the load current I_L and of the switching voltage V_Q.

[0071] Figure 4C is a circuit block diagram exemplary of a one or more embodiments of a circuit 100' configured for driving a load L, in particular an inductive load L, in a high-side driver configuration with valley load current measurement. Figure 5C illustrates corresponding exemplary waveforms of the load current I_L and of the switching voltage V_Q.

[0072] Figure 4D is a circuit block diagram exemplary of a one or more embodiments of a circuit 100' configured for driving a load L, in particular an inductive load L, in a high-side driver configuration with peak load current measurement. Figure 5D illustrates corresponding exemplary waveforms of the load current I_L and of the switching voltage V_Q.

[0073] Therefore, one or more embodiments as exemplified in Figures 4A to 4D may generate a compensated error signal cdc which accounts for possible variations of the load current taking place during the switching "blind zone" T2. Various embodiments are applicable to a low-side or a high-side driver configuration, and to peak current measurement or valley current measurement.

[0074] It is noted that, while not being visible in Figures 4A to 4D for the sake of simplicity only, a current sensing circuit CS' in one or more embodiments as exemplified in any of Figures 4A to 4D may comprise an adder circuit 16 configured to sum the output signals from the first and second current sense amplifier circuits 12a, 12b to reconstruct a (digital) signal sum indicative of the overall current I_L flowing in the load L.

[0075] Therefore, various embodiments as exemplified in the Figures annexed herein may share the common principle of:

sampling, at one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch, a first value I_a of the current flowing in the load L at an instant t₁ before commutation of the driver circuit,

sampling, at the other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch, a second value I_b of the current flowing in the load L at an instant t₂ after commutation of the driver circuit,

measuring a time interval T_b elapsing between a switching instant t_s of the driver circuit and the sampling instant t₂,

sampling, at the other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch, a third value I_c of the current flowing in the load L at an instant t₃, wherein the time interval T_c elapsing between said sampling instant t₂ and said sampling instant t₃ is approximately equal to the time interval T_b,

computing an error value err as a difference between said first value I_a and said second value I_b,

computing a compensation value edc as a difference between said second value I_b and said third value I_c,

computing a compensated error value cdc as a difference between said error value err and said compensation value edc, and

detecting a possible failure of the driver circuit as a function of said compensated error value cdc.

[0076] It is noted that the first sampling may be effected at one of the high-side switch HS or the low-side switch LS depending on whether the sensing is performed at a valley or at a peak of the load current, and on whether the load is driven in a high-side driver configuration or in a low-side driver configuration. Correspondingly, the second and third sampling may be effected at the other of the high-side switch HS or the low-side switch LS.

[0077] It is noted that one or more embodiments (not visible in the Figures annexed herein) may rely on a simpler circuit architecture. For instance, the third sampling I_c of the load current may be effected after a fixed time duration following the instant t₂ or the instant t_s.

[0078] In one or more embodiments, a load driver circuit LD and a current sensing circuit CS' as exemplified herein may be implemented in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 100' such as a solenoid driver integrated circuit which may be comprised, by way of example, in a transmission control unit or in a braking control unit of a vehicle.

[0079] To this regard, Figure 6 is exemplary of one or more embodiments of a device 60 such as a transmission control unit or a braking control unit comprising a driver circuit 100' and a processing unit 600 (e.g., a microcontroller unit of a vehicle). The processing unit 600 may be configured to provide the control signal com to the driver circuit 100', and to receive a failure signal fail from the driver circuit 100'.

[0080] Figure 6 is exemplary of one or more embodiments of a vehicle V comprising a device 60 configured to control operation of an inductive actuator L, such as a solenoid.

[0081] One or more embodiments may thus provide improved accuracy in determining failures of a driver circuit for an inductive load, which may be particularly advantageous to fulfill safety requirements in the automotive field.

[0082] As exemplified herein, a circuit (e.g., 100') may comprise a high-side switch (e.g., HS) and a low-side switch (e.g., LS) having a node (e.g., Q) intermediate the high-side switch and the low-side switch, wherein the high-side switch is configured to provide a current flow line between a supply voltage node (e.g., D) and said intermediate node and the low-side switch is configured to provide a current flow line between said intermediate node and a reference voltage node (e.g., G). The circuit may comprise a control input node (e.g., C) configured to receive a switching control signal (e.g., com), said switching control signal being applied (e.g., 10a, 10b) with opposite polarities to said high-side switch and said low-side switch. The high-side switch and the low-side switch may be configured to drive an inductive load (e.g., L) coupled either between said supply voltage node and said intermediate node or between said intermediate node and said reference voltage node. During a first portion of a switching cycle of said switching control signal a load current (e.g., I_L) may flow in one of said high-side switch and said low-side switch, and during a second portion of the switching cycle of said switching control signal the load current may flow in the other of said high-side switch and said low-side switch.

[0083] As exemplified herein, a circuit may further comprise current sensing circuitry (e.g., CS') configured to:

sample (e.g., 12a, 14a) a first value (e.g., I_a) of the load current flowing in said one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a first sampling instant (e.g., t₁) during said first portion of a switching cycle before a commutation (e.g., t_s) of said switching control signal,

sample (e.g., 12b, 14b) a second value (e.g., I_b) of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a second sampling instant (e.g., t₂) during said second portion of a switching cycle after said commutation of said switching control signal,

sample (e.g., 12b, 14c) a third value (e.g., I_c) of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a third sampling instant (e.g., t₃) during said second portion of a switching cycle after said second sampling instant, and

generate (e.g., 18) a failure signal (e.g., fail) as a function of said first, second and third sampled values of the load current.

[0084] As exemplified herein, said current sensing circuitry may be configured to:

subtract (e.g., 16a) said second sampled value of the load current from said first sampled value of the load current to generate an uncompensated error signal (e.g., err),

subtract (e.g., 16b) said third sampled value of the load current from said second sampled value of the load current to generate a compensation signal (e.g., edc),

subtract (e.g., 16c) said compensation signal from said uncompensated error signal to generate a compensated error signal (e.g., cdc), and

generate said failure signal as a function of said compensated error signal.

[0085] As exemplified herein, generating said failure signal may comprise comparing said compensated error signal to at least one threshold value.

[0086] As exemplified herein, said current sensing circuitry may be configured to sample the third value of the load current after a time interval (e.g., T_c) from said second sampling instant. Said time interval may be, for instance, a determined time interval of fixed duration.

[0087] As exemplified herein, a circuit may comprise a comparator circuit (e.g., 40) configured to sense a voltage signal (e.g., V_Q) at said intermediate node, and compare said voltage signal sensed to a threshold value (e.g., V_TH) to generate an output signal having edges indicative of switching instants of said intermediate node. The current sensing circuitry may be configured (e.g., 42) to sample the third value of the load current after a compensation time interval from said second sampling instant, and said compensation time interval may be a function of a time interval (e.g., T_b) elapsing between an edge of said output signal of said comparator circuit and said second sampling instant.

[0088] As exemplified herein, the compensation time interval may be equal to said time interval elapsing between an edge of said output signal of said comparator circuit and said second sampling instant.

[0089] As exemplified herein, the current sensing circuitry may comprise an up-and-down counter circuit (e.g., 42) configured to start counting an internal count number from a reference value at an edge of said output signal of said comparator circuit, reverse the direction of counting at said second sampling instant, and assert a respective output signal as a result of the internal count number returning to said reference value. The output signal of the up-and-down counter circuit may trigger said third sampling instant.

[0090] As exemplified herein, a device (e.g., 60) may comprise a circuit according to one or more embodiments and a processing unit (e.g., 600). The processing unit may be configured to provide said switching control signal to the circuit and to receive said failure signal from the circuit.

[0091] As exemplified herein, a vehicle (e.g., V) may comprise a device according to one or more embodiments, and an inductive actuator (e.g., a solenoid) coupled to the device and controlled by the circuit.

[0092] As exemplified herein, a method of operating a circuit according to one or more embodiments may comprise:

receiving a switching control signal and applying said switching control signal with opposite polarities to said high-side switch and said low-side switch,

coupling an inductive load either between said supply voltage node and said intermediate node or between said intermediate node and said reference voltage node,

sampling a first value of the load current flowing in said one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a first sampling instant before a commutation of said switching control signal,

sampling a second value of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a second sampling instant after said commutation of said switching control signal,

sampling a third value of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch and the low-side switch at a third sampling instant after said second sampling instant, and

generating a failure signal as a function of said first, second and third sampled values of the load current.

[0093] Without prejudice to the underlying principles, the details and embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been described by way of example only, without departing from the extent of protection.

[0094] The extent of protection is determined by the annexed claims.

Claims

1. A circuit (100'), comprising:

a high-side switch (HS) and a low-side switch (LS) having a node (Q) intermediate the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS), wherein the high-side switch (HS) is configured to provide a current flow line between a supply voltage node (D) and said intermediate node (Q) and the low-side switch (HS) is configured to provide a current flow line between said intermediate node (Q) and a reference voltage node (G), and

a control input node (C) configured to receive a switching control signal (com), said switching control signal being applied (10a, 10b) with opposite polarities to said high-side switch (HS) and said low-side switch (LS),

wherein said high-side switch (HS) and said low-side switch (LS) are configured to drive an inductive load (L) coupled either between said supply voltage node (D) and said intermediate node (Q) or between said intermediate node (Q) and said reference voltage node (G), wherein during a first portion of a switching cycle of said switching control signal (com) a load current (I_L) flows in one of said high-side switch (HS) and said low-side switch (LS), and during a second portion of the switching cycle of said switching control signal (com) the load current (I_L) flows in the other of said high-side switch (HS) and said low-side switch (LS),

the circuit (100') further comprising current sensing circuitry (CS') configured to:

sample (12a, 14a) a first value (I_a) of the load current flowing in said one of the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS) at a first sampling instant (t₁) during said first portion of a switching cycle before a commutation (t_s) of said switching control signal (com),

sample (12b, 14b) a second value (I_b) of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS) at a second sampling instant (t₂) during said second portion of a switching cycle after said commutation (t_s) of said switching control signal (com),

sample (12b, 14c) a third value (I_c) of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS) at a third sampling instant (t₃) during said second portion of a switching cycle after said second sampling instant (t₂), and

generate (18) a failure signal (fail) as a function of said first (I_a), second (I_b) and third (I_c) sampled values of the load current.

2. The circuit (100') of claim 1, wherein said current sensing circuitry (CS') is configured to:

subtract (16a) said second sampled value (I_b) of the load current from said first sampled value (I_a) of the load current to generate an uncompensated error signal (err),

subtract (16b) said third sampled value (I_c) of the load current from said second sampled value (I_b) of the load current to generate a compensation signal (edc),

subtract (16c) said compensation signal (edc) from said uncompensated error signal (err) to generate a compensated error signal (cdc), and

generate (18) said failure signal (fail) as a function of said compensated error signal (cdc).

3. The circuit (100') of claim 2, wherein generating (18) said failure signal (fail) comprises comparing said compensated error signal (cdc) to at least one threshold value.

4. The circuit (100') of any of the previous claims, wherein said current sensing circuitry (CS') is configured to sample (12b, 14c) the third value (I_c) of the load current after a time interval (T_c) from said second sampling instant (t₂).

5. The circuit (100') of any of the previous claims, comprising a comparator circuit (40) configured to:

sense a voltage signal (V_Q) at said intermediate node (Q), and

compare said voltage signal sensed (V_Q) to a threshold value (V_TH) to generate an output signal having edges indicative of switching instants (t_s) of said intermediate node (Q),

and wherein said current sensing circuitry (CS') is configured (42) to sample (12b, 14c) the third value (I_c) of the load current after a compensation time interval (T_c) from said second sampling instant (t₂), wherein said compensation time interval (T_c) is a function of a time interval (T_b) elapsing between an edge of said output signal of said comparator circuit (40) and said second sampling instant (t₂).

6. The circuit (100') of claim 5, wherein the compensation time interval (T_c) is equal to said time interval (T_b) elapsing between an edge of said output signal of said comparator circuit (40) and said second sampling instant (t₂).

7. The circuit (100') of claim 6, wherein said current sensing circuitry (CS') comprises an up-and-down counter circuit (42) configured to:

start counting an internal count number from a reference value at an edge of said output signal of said comparator circuit (40),

reverse the direction of counting at said second sampling instant (t₂), and

assert a respective output signal as a result of the internal count number returning to said reference value,

and wherein the output signal of the up-and-down counter circuit (42) triggers said third sampling instant (t₃).

8. A device (60) comprising a circuit (100') according to any of the previous claims and a processing unit (600), wherein said processing unit (600) is configured to provide said switching control signal (com) to the circuit (100') and to receive said failure signal (fail) from the circuit (100').

9. A vehicle (V) comprising a device (60) according to claim 8 and an inductive actuator (L) coupled to the device and controlled by the circuit (100').

10. A method of operating a circuit (100') according to any of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising:

receiving (C) a switching control signal (com) and applying (10a, 10b) said switching control signal with opposite polarities to said high-side switch (HS) and said low-side switch (LS),

coupling an inductive load (L) either between said supply voltage node (D) and said intermediate node (Q) or between said intermediate node (Q) and said reference voltage node (G),

sampling (12a, 14a) a first value (I_a) of the load current flowing in said one of the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS) at a first sampling instant (t₁) before a commutation (t_s) of said switching control signal (com),

sampling (12b, 14b) a second value (I_b) of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS) at a second sampling instant (t₂) after said commutation (t_s) of said switching control signal (com),

sampling (12b, 14c) a third value (I_c) of the load current flowing in said other of the high-side switch (HS) and the low-side switch (LS) at a third sampling instant (t₃) after said second sampling instant (t₂), and

generating (18) a failure signal (fail) as a function of said first (I_a), second (I_b) and third (I_c) sampled values of the load current.

Drawing